Shadow of collusion hangs over CY Leung's new commission
New high-powered government advisers will not need to declare their interests in writing
The Economic Development Commission met for the first time yesterday and immediately sparked fears that it could foster collusion between big business and government.
It emerged that commission members will not be required to hand in written statements declaring their interests - instead, they are required simply to make it clear during meetings when any conflict of interests arise. Its meetings will be held behind closed doors.
In contrast, executive councillors must make written declarations that are published on the council's website.
"It is very dangerous," Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun said. "It will break Hong Kong's good tradition of preventing conflict of interest. It means the beginning of collusion."
The commission, announced in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's policy address, will make recommendations to the government on strategy and policy to enhance economic development and to identify and support growth industries.
To said that as the commission's 26 members would help shape the direction of the economy, possibly involving investments of tens of billions of dollars, it was unacceptable not to have written declarations.